October 25 — On This Day in Opera

Carl Maria von Weber's opera "Euryanthe" received its world premiere at the Kärntnertortheater in Vienna, with a libretto by Helmina von Chézy.

Georges Bizet, French composer best known for "Carmen" and "Les Pêcheurs de perles", was born in Paris.

Giuseppe Verdi's opera "Il corsaro", with a libretto by Francesco Maria Piave based on Lord Byron's poem, received its world premiere at the Teatro Grande in Trieste.

Giacomo Puccini's "La bohème" received its Brussels premiere at La Monnaie in Paul Ferrier's French translation. Puccini attended the performance.

The original version of Richard Strauss's "Ariadne auf Naxos" received its world premiere at the Stuttgart Hoftheater, conducted by the composer and presented with an adaptation of Molière's "Le Bourgeois gentilhomme".

Alexander Gretchaninov's opera "Sister Beatrice" premiered in Moscow. The performance was dated October 12 under the Russian Old Style calendar; the production was suppressed after three performances.

Daniel Catán's Spanish-language opera "Florencia en el Amazonas", with a libretto by Marcela Fuentes-Berain, received its world premiere at Houston Grand Opera.

The first World Opera Day was celebrated internationally, bringing together opera houses, performers, and audiences to highlight opera's cultural and social impact.

Carla Lucero's children's opera "Hello, Star", with a libretto by Jarrod Lee, received its world premiere at the Creativity Theater in San Francisco, presented by Opera Parallèle.

Johann Strauss II, Austrian composer of the operettas "Die Fledermaus" and "Der Zigeunerbaron", was born in Vienna.

Alexander Gretchaninov, Russian composer of the operas "Dobrynya Nikitich" and "Sister Beatrice", was born in Moscow.

Anita Välkki, Finnish dramatic soprano celebrated for her Wagnerian roles and performances at the Metropolitan Opera and Bayreuth Festival, was born in Sääksmäki, Finland.

Galina Vishnevskaya, renowned Russian operatic soprano and a leading performer at the Bolshoi Theatre, was born in Leningrad.